Maxwell Students Leave High School 'Work Ready'
Partnership with Gwinnett Tech prepares students for the workplace
More than 100 Maxwell High School of Technology students are now certified as "work ready" after working with Gwinnett Technical College to prepare for the workforce while still earning their high school diplomas.
Gwinnett Technical College is partnering with the Governor's Office of Workforce Development on the Georgia Work Ready program to strengthen Gwinnett's workforce and promote statewide economic growth.
"Today's employers often have trouble finding and hiring people with the right skills for the jobs at hand. Businesses need new hires that can perform efficiently," says Ann Sechrist, director of economic development at Gwinnett Tech. "A job applicant with a Work Ready certificate tells an employer that he or she is ready to go to work with the skills needed for the job."
For the job seeker, a Work Ready certificate is an important tool to have in a competitive job market. For employers, hiring Work Ready certified applicants can reduce turnover and improve efficiency, two positive boosts to any bottom line.
Through the program, high school students like those at Maxwell High School of Technology can take free assessment tests at Gwinnett Tech to earn a Work Ready certificate. Tests are offered in four areas -- Applied Math, Reading for Information, Locating Information and Work Ethics. For those that don't earn their certificate on the first attempt, Gwinnett Tech can provide online access for free gap training to prepare students for re-testing.
Maxwell High School of Technology students have already earned 115 Work Ready certificates and will continue to earn certificates in partnership with Gwinnett Tech.
"The Work Ready certification is just one important part of their preparation for the workplace," adds Sechrist. "These students can add this certification to their resume and employers will understand their skill levels."
The ultimate goal, says Sechrist, is for Gwinnett County to be certified as a Work Ready county, a milestone measured by the level of employer and employee participation. "As our Work Ready community continues to grow, these young men and women from Maxwell will be some of the very first in Gwinnett that are Work Ready," she adds.
For more information about Gwinnett Tech's Work Ready program, contact the college's Assessment Center at 678-226-6303. To learn about the more than 45 program options available at Gwinnett Tech, call 770-962-7580 or visit www.gwinnetttech.edu.
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